Venenum - VenenumThis is very good. Incorporates old-school death metal with some new ideas, ambitious song-writing and good sense of atmosphere. Alot of potential here, hopefully a full-length is on the way.

Obliteration - NekropslamsI like this, although it's nothing special. Nothing really stands out from this album but it maintains a strong sense of mood throughout and the song-writing is interesting.

Crucifiction - Portals to the BeyondSome good ideas but too disorganized. A couple of tracks work well but other than that the riffs don't fit together organically and it just seems random.

Innumerable Forms needs to fucking record something else already. "Dark Worship" really holds up after repeated listens, I'd give it a solid B+, maybe even an A- on a generous day.

I'm still listening to Disma, Cruciamentum, and Dead Congregation pretty regularly. Father Befouled too - however their latest album is really weak compared to "Profano Ad Regnum" or "Obscurus Nex Cultus". I think they need to start varying it up a bit because the formula is wearing thin.

Ignivomous, Vasalaeth, Mandatory, Claws, Teitanblood - all bored the crap out of me.

Grave Miasma was particularly bad. Having a hard time believing some of these guys are in Cruciamentum. Necros Christos has cool ideas but their presentation doesn't do it for me.

Someone mentioned Impetuous Ritual earlier - I grabbed their album recently and was very impressed. It is indeed a more "structured" version of Portal. I'm still waiting to see if the impression will last, but it's been about a month or two and I find myself putting them on about once a week. We'll see.

Dead Congregation, Funebrarum, Cruciamentum and Blaspherian; I all hold in high regards.

Having been into Dead Congregation since I remember hearing Graves of the Archangels for the first time in 08 when it came out, that album has won album of the year consistently (yeah, wrap your head around that one)

Funebrarum does nothing but destroy, I don't feel wanting more from the songs; just moar songs.

Cruciamentum is fantastic live and the two releases they made so far are killer, plus the split. Shame they are ending things so soon.

And finally, having hung out with and watched Blaspherian practice; they too are another "new" band but most definitely have their sights set for greater things. Wes has a top notch band of death warriors ready to total death strike at a moments notice.

the DM scene needs more rotten slimey original death metal and less goat worship/bo(war)e metal

I like Funebrarum's debut a lot, but I don't see a ton of worth in their 2nd album...am I missing something? Seems like Incantation crossed with Swedeath that's a little too suffocating for listening.

Edit: This DOES sound better on good headphones than it did on my car speakers at least...

It's the lesser album. You're right about the origins of the sound (I'd probably include that it sounds a little like Morpheus Descends at times too), but it's just not as good as the debut. The production is crisp but far too clear, and the songs are interesting but do not maintain the same dank, fetid atmosphere that the debut provides. "The Sleep of Morbid Dreams" is one of those not-bad-but-not-really-great albums. I find myself listening to it once in a while, but whether or not you keep it depends solely on your personal taste.

Morgengrau and Cruciamentum are great. I got to see the latter this weekend at MDF, and thanks to the semi-coherent hired goons that made up the venue security, I only caught the last song. (last show, too?)

Blessed Offal is one to hear, for sure. Increasingly great Death Metal in the vein of Incantation and maybe some older Finnish bands. They're also from Boston, where punk/hardcore influences are often to be found even in the most intricate of Metal. This is subtle for them, but adds a much more aggressive effect to the already cavernous riffing.... imagine being blindfolded and punched in the stomach repeatedly in a sewer tunnel. (unless you're into that kind of thing!)

Morgengrau and Cruciamentum are great. I got to see the latter this weekend at MDF, and thanks to the semi-coherent hired goons that made up the venue security, I only caught the last song. (last show, too?)

It was bullshit, right? I'm in the same boat. Missed them because of the moronic security.